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Is it better to do my painting myself or hire a contractor?

There are lots of people out there who are born do-it-yourselfers. In some cases, this can be a good thing, as it is almost always certainly more economical to go to your local hardware store and buy a few cans of paint than it is to hire a professional painter. After all, when you hire a professional, you will have to pay for labour. Nevertheless, there are many reasons why you might want to hire a professional painter.

Lead paint. If your home was built prior to 1978, it is strongly recommended that you hire a professional who is certified to deal with lead paint. Improper removal can lead to toxic dust which can be very dangerous.

Professional painters are quick. In addition to the time you would spend if you had to purchase your own paint, rollers and trays, a novice painter usually takes much more time than a professional would. Much of this extra time is due to the fact that a newbie painter must use tape where a veteran of the painting world is able to work freehand. There are also many other details that you may have to consider such as repairing damaged walls, filling holes etc.

Professional painters get the job done right the first time. Unlike novice painters, a professional painter will be more easily able to assess the job and know what is needed before he starts. A professional painter is very accurate in estimating how much paint will be needed for a particular job and what tools he will have to bring along. In other words: no running out to get refills or realizing mid project that he can’t reach that 25 foot ceiling!

You have a big job. Even if you are a great do-it-yourselfer and you love to paint, you may still want to hire a professional painter if you have a job that is very large. Professional painters make recommendations. You may think that “sunflower yellow” will go perfect with your grandmother’s antique dining room set. And maybe it will. But a professional painter may know different. Since colour’s on paint sample cards rarely look the same once they are on your wall, having the help of a professional can save you a lot of time and headache.

Often, a professional painter will offer to put some paint samples up on the wall so that you can get a better idea of how a particular colour will look in your room. A professional will also make sure that you get the right type of paint for your particular job so you won’t have to worry about having a paint that marks easily in a high traffic area.

In some cases DIY painting can cost you more than a professional. Let’s face it, painting is disruptive because you can’t use a room while it’s being painting. While hiring a professional painter disrupts your use of a room for a few hours, DIY painting can disrupt a room for a week or longer – especially if you work full time and have to do your painting bit by bit. And if the place that is being painted happens to be a store showroom – or an apartment or house that your are trying to rent, then you need to factor in not only the price of the painter, but also any lost revenue that you will have from the job not being done quickly.

When it comes to painting, doing it yourself can be the right choice for some people some of the time – but if the job is a big one, you’re short on time or you simply would rather let someone else take care of all the details that come with painting, then hiring a professional may just be the right choice for you.